Games, Heritage, Arts, & Sport: the economic, social, and cultural value of the European videogame ecosystem (GAMEHEARTS)

GAMEHEARTS will seek to maximise the value of the European videogame industry ecosystems (hereafter, EVGIE) within a wider
social context of the creative and cultural industries (hereafter, CCI). This will consider the importance of the EVGIE in contributing
to economic growth, job creation, physical and mental wellbeing, and social and cultural cohesion, by particularly focusing on, how
a stronger and closer working relationship between more the traditional and emergent cultural sectors, can work better to create more
inclusive and socially responsible cultural experiences. The consortium will offer policy recommendations and roadmaps setting out how
the EVGIE can and should develop, and where it could act as a driver for sustained innovation and economic growth. It will utilise an
evidence-based approach that focuses not just on videogame development, but rather adopts a holistic ecosystem approach, utilising both
established and more innovative methodologies, to consider the competitiveness and development of the EVGIE, and how videogame
know-how and technologies could drive innovation in the wider CCI. In doing so, GAMEHEARTS will develop ‘ludic experiences’,
to explore possibilities of more inclusive, engaging, and empowering cultural experiences. Working across seven work packages the
universities of Salford (UK), Tampere (Finland), Vienna (Austria), Breda University of Applied Sciences (Netherlands), and Wroclaw
University of Economics and Business (Poland) will work in parentship with Ubisoft (France) and other major videogame partners and
associations (including the ISFE & EGDF) to explore current and future trends in the EVGIE. Beyond this, we will work with certain
cultural case studies partners to consider how game-related technologies and practices are and could be used to increased access to
heritage, the arts, and sport